Bowling ball retarder with replaceable cloth cover



N- FAST June 24, 1969 3,451,676 BOWLING BALL RETARDER WITH REPLACEABLBCLOTH com! Filed Sept. 29, 1966 I NVENTOR. NATHAN FAST ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent ()1 ice 3,451,676 Patented June 24, 1969 3,451,676 BOWLINGBALL RETARDER WITH REPLACEABLE CLOTH COVER Nathan Fast, 1717 SpartanDrive, Columbus, Ohio 43209 Filed Sept. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 582,893 Int.Cl. A63d /02, 5/10 US. Cl. 27347 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREBackground of the invention A bowling ball return system is used to movea bowling ball from the pin end of the bowling lane to the playersapproach end. The system is generally located bet-ween two adjacentlanes, and in modern alleys is concealed beneath the floor. The systemincludes a ball track which is upwardly inclined near the approach endso that the ball may return to a rack near the player. At the point inthe track where the incline begins there is located a bowling ballretarder.

The bowling ball retarder reduces the speed of a bowling ball andprevents the ball from jumping upwardly into the underside of the floor.When the ball leaves the pin end of the lane on the return track it istravelling about 60 miles per hour. When the ball reaches the retarder,the speed has diminished from the original 60 miles per hour; however,the speed must be further reduced so that the ball will travel safely upthe incline to the ball rack. The retarder consists of a semicylindricalleather sleeve, metal alignment frames, and a bracket which anchors thesleeve to the top of the track. The retarder is usually several feet inlength and is positioned over the track so as to create a tunnel-likestructure, the inner surface of which the ball must contact as it beginsto roll up the incline to the track.

Although the retarder performs its functions well during its usefullife, it has a main disadvantage in that it covers the returning bowlingballs with oil, grease, and dust. The leather sleeve very readilyadsorbs the oil used for polishing and preserving the lanes. When a ballis rolled down the lane toward the pins, it often picks up small amountsof oil and dust (grime) and on its return via the return track itdeposits a portion of the grime on the retarder. Soon after beinginstalled, the retarder is coated with the grime which the returningballs have left upon it, and thereafter any ball which is relativelyclean when returning on the track will become covered with grime uponstriking the retarder. The grime thus placed on the ball prevents anaccurate roll of the ball, and in addition is usually transferred to thehands and clothes of the players. Also, the grime on the ball is oftendeposited on the automatic pin setters at the pin end of the lane, thuscausing the electrical-mechanical setters to function incorrectly and torequire repair.

Prior to my invention, the only method of eliminating the aforementionedproblems was constant cleaning of the ball retarder by means of a wirebrush and cleaning solution. This method is very unsatisfactory becauseit is expensive, requires much time to perform, and increasessubstantially the amount of wear and tear on the leather sleeve, therebyreducing its useful life. When the leather sleeve is cleaned in thismanner, it generally requires replacement within approximately fiveyears. This is a further expense which my invention reduces since itsuse will substantially lengthen the life of the leather sleeve.

Objects Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to overcome theaforementioned problems and disadvantages inherent in the prior art.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cover for a bowlingball retarder which will preserve the effectiveness of the retarder andprotect it from rapidly becoming worn. It is another object to provide acover for a bowling ball retarder which will preserve the surface of theleather sleeve and prevent it from becoming coated with grime.

It is another object to provide a bowling ball retarder cover forassisting the retarder in reducing the speed of a bowling ball.

It is another object to provide a bowling ball retarder cover which willremove most of the grime from a bowling ball, so that it is relativelyclean when returned to the approach end of the lane.

It is a further object to provide a cover for a bowling ball retarder,which device will be simple, durable, and efiicient, and which may bemanufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

Further objects and features of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and claims when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Drawings In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the bowling ball retarder cover;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the cover in its folded, operativeposition when attached to the retarder (retarder not shown);

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the bowling ball retarder in itsoperative position on the return track; and

FIG. 4 is a view in exploded perspective showing the bowling ballretarder with the cover attached.

Turning now to the specific embodiment of the invention selected forillustration in the drawings, the number 10 designates generally mycover for a bowling ball retarder. The cover 10 includes a piece ofmaterial 13, preferably cloth, which has retarder contact surface 12 andball contact surface 11. The cover 10 also has loops 14 for attachmentto the retarder 26 and metal snaps 16 and 18 which fasten together forattachment of the cover 10 to the bracket 24.

The bowling ball retarder 26 comprises semicylindrical leather sleeve 30which is fastened to metal alignment frames29 at points 36. Thealignment frames 29 are connected by the bar or handle 34 which is usedto remove the retarder 26 from its position above the junction of track22 with incline 20. The sleeve 30 is folded around the bracket 24 andfastened as at point 32. The ends of bracket 24 engage holders 25 on topof the track 22, the engagement being suflicient to prevent the retarder26 from sliding on the track 22 when struck on its inner surface by aball moving on the return track 22 in the direction of the incline 20.The edges of the sleeve 30 rest on the tops of sides 38 and 40 of thetrack 22. The ends 28 of the frames 29 extend downwardly outside track22 adjacent the sides 38 and 40 and properly align the sleeve 30 so thatit remains on top of the sides 38 and 40'.

Operation In operation, the cover 10 is positioned between the retarder26 and the track 22 with the surface 12 facing the leather sleeve 30 andthe end having snaps 16 and 18 under the bracket 24. The retarder 26cannot be completely removed from its position above the track 22 whenthe bracket 24 is engaged in holders 25 and when the front portion ofthe leather sleeve 30 is fastened to the bracket 24 as at the point 32.However, the rear portion of the retarder 26 may be lifted from thetrack 22 by means of handle 34, and when this is done, the loops 14 maybe slipped over the ends 28 and the retarder 26 replaced on the track22. Next, the front portion of the cover is brought up and around thebracket 24. Snaps 16 and 18, 16a and 18a, 16b and 18b, 16c and 180 arethen respectively fastened together. Thus the cover 10 is securelyattached to the bracket 24 and the frame ends 28 and is adapted toconform to the ball contact (inner) surface of the sleeve 30. Theresulting structure appears as the retarder 26 with attached cover 10,as in FIG. 4, except that in operative position the bracket 24 isanchored in the holders 25 and the leather sleeve 30 is resting on thetrack 22, as in FIG. 3.

The advantages of the cover are numerous. The cover may be easilyinstalled and removed without disassembly of the retarder itself. Thecover improves the effectiveness of the retarder in retarding a bowlingball, and it lessens the wear on the retarder, thereby extending itsuseful life. The cover is very efiective in removing grime from abowling ball, thereby minimizing the problems of inaccurate rolls,soiled hands and clothes, and automatic pin setters in need of repair.Of course, the cover will have to be removed and washed periodically,but its fast and easy assembly and disassembly make washing no problem.In fact, the cover is a type of article whereby when one cover isremoved for washing, another clean cover may immediately be used toreplace the dirty one. It is preferred that the cover be made of a pieceof canton flannel; that is, a piece of material which has duck or canvason one side and flannel on the other. However, another type of clothmaterial such as cotton flannel (flannel on both sides), cotton, orwool, may be used, though not quite as effectively as canton flannel.When the cover is made of canton flannel, the duck side contacts theretarder and the flannel side contacts the bowling ball.

I have found that the foregoing and related objects and advantages canbe attained in a cover for a bowling ball retarder in an alleyreturnway, said cover comprising (1) a thin piece of material whichextends over and is adapted to conform to the ball contact surface ofsaid retarder and (2) means for attachment to said retarder, wherebysaid cover (1) lessens the wear on said retarder, (2) prevents thedeposit of grime on said retarder, (3) removes grime from the bowlingball moving through said returnway, and (4) assists said retarder inreducing the speed of said bowling ball.

It is to be understood that the detailed drawings and specific examplesgiven describe preferred embodiments of my invention but are for thepurposes of illustration only, that the apparatus of the invention isnot limited to the precise details and conditions disclosed, and thatvarious changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention which is defined by th following claims.

I claim:

1. A combined bowling ball retarder and cleaner for use in an alleyreturnway, in a bowling alley, comprising in combination:

(1) a semi-cylindrical leather sleeve secured to' said returnway whichcomprises a bowling ball retarder;

(2) a cover for said retarder which comprises a thin piece of washablecloth material which extends over and is adapted to conform to the ballcontact surfaces of said retarder; and

(3) means attaching said cover to said retarder; said retarder beingprovided with alignment frame members disposed at the sides thereof andwith a bracket at the forward end thereof and the means attaching saidcover to said retarder including means comprising loops formed on theside edges of said piece of washable cloth material engaging with thealignment frame of said ball retarder, and means comprising metal snapson the front of said piece of washable cloth material securing saidpiece to the bracket of said ball retarder.

2. The combination of claim 1:

wherein the piece of washable cloth material is canton flannel.

3. A combined bowling ball retarder and cleaner for use in a below-flooralley returnway in a bowling alley comprising in combination:

(1) a semi-cylindrical leather sleeve secured to said returnway forreducing the speed of the ball and preventing said ball from leaving thereturnway track, which comprises a bowling ball retarder;

(2) an anchoring bracket to which the sleeve is fastened holding saidsleeve in fixed position above said track;

(3) alignment frames to which said sleeve is fastened keeping saidsleeve on top of the sides of said track; and

' (4) a bracket at the forward end thereof, a cover improvementcomprising:

(1) a thin piece of material which extends over and conforms to theinner surface of said leather sleeve, and

(2) means attaching said cover to said retarder, in-

cluding loops formed on the edges of said piece, said loops encirclingthe ends of said alignment frames, and two transverse rows of metalsnaps on the front of said piece which are fastened together so as toattach said piece to said bracket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,386,735 6/1968 Rogers 273-491,138,305 5/1915 Miller 15-247 1,476,396 12/1923 Dickson 15-2472,301,586 11/1942 Rubin 15-247 2,587,927 3/ 1952 Tschudy 273-473,231,273 1/1966 Eastman 273-54 3,304,086 2/ 1967 Schankler 273-47 ANTONO. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R.

